What killed my dad? - Mills’ son quizzes

The fifth anniversary of the demise of Professor John Evans Atta Mills was held yesterday in Accra with a renewed call for investigation into what actually killed the president.

His only son, Sam Kofi Mills, has waded into the debate, wanting to know the cause of death of his father.

According to him, neither he (son) nor the family of the late president is aware of the cause of the former leader’s death and that no autopsy report had been issued to that effect.

He said yesterday that “if someone approached me or if some sort of investigation might have to be done to find out, of course, I will champion the cause because he is my father and I want to know.

“I still don’t know the cause of his death; the hospital never gave the family any autopsy report to show that this and this were the cause of why he passed away, so, I don’t think any member of my family will be able to give evidence of how President Mills passed away.”

Wreath Laying Drama

At the Asomdwee Park, near the Independence Square, where the late president was buried on August 10, 2012, family members, as well as his party – National Democratic Congress (NDC) – officials gathered to lay wreaths in memory of the late president, but that did not pass without some sort of drama.

A source said when it was time for wreaths to be laid, there was none for former President John Dramani Mahama and the organizers had to dash to town to buy him one.

Mahama’s Sermon

Later, Mr Mahama advised Ghanaians to emulate the late Mills whom he described as an embodiment of peace.

“We’re celebrating his life, and working with Professor Mills was a great experience for me; and as we all know, he stood for certain values and those values were values of inclusiveness, humility and a person who was father for all.

“Unfortunately, Ghana continues to be torn apart by partisan differences and that was what Professor Mills tried to scale. Even though I feel people feel vengeful, we must remember his character and try to live by those values. And, so, as we celebrate the fifth anniversary, let us all remember what he stood for – that the opportunities of this country should be open to all our people, irrespective of their political affiliations. I’m happy that he’s in heaven looking down on us and that Ghana will continue to make progress and we must all continue to work together to make our nation great and strong,” Mr. Mahama underscored.

Mills’ Death

Prof. Mills died suddenly on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, when he was preparing to contest for a second term in office, and since then, details about what caused his death are still shrouded in secrecy.

President Mahama, who was Prof Mills’ vice and subsequently succeeded him upon his demise, from all indications, did not tell Ghanaians what actually was the cause of his boss’ death and the erstwhile NDC administration is not in any position to make that revelation.

Just last week, members of the maternal family of the late president said they would support any attempt by President Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to investigate circumstances surrounding the death of the former president.

“We won’t mind if the new government probes what actually caused the death of our brother, the president. We don’t mind if they do that so that everything will be clarified,” Ato Harry Brew, an 85-year-old first cousin of the late president, told DAILY GUIDE in Accra.

“If the opinion of the country is that it should be done then it has to be done,” he said from his Ashongman Estates residence when he took DAILY GUIDE through the family history of Mills.

Opportunistic People

The family’s position to know the cause of death appears to have been contradicted by one of the president’s younger brothers – Samuel Atta Mills – who is the current NDC MP for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) in the Central Region.

“It is just a few opportunistic people, who are asking for this; who claim they are family members. How are they family members? How far removed are they?” the NDC MP quizzed in an interview with Class FM in Accra.

“We all have extended family in other areas who feel that this is the cocoa season and then they need to get involved in whatever they are sharing; there is nothing to share. Actual family is not asking for this; anybody can get up and claim that they are a family member,” Mr. Atta Mills fumed.